The SUD Union [Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques, a group of French trade unions], which condemns the lack of salary agreement between the management and employees, is calling for an eight-hour strike this Friday, when the new smartphone is released.
Apple followers may find some unpleasant news Friday, as Apple store employees in France have called for a strike over their salaries and working conditions on the release day of the new multimedia iPhone 5. The strike was called by the SUD union, which represents 25 percent of employees, after failed salary negotiations, a union representative announced on Thursday.
“No agreement has been signed with the management as the proposals were inadequate. We are calling on the 1,500 employees to strike and ask them to unite in front of the Apple Stores Friday at 8:00 AM, the release time of the brand’s new smartphone,” he said.
The CFTC union [the French Confederation of Christian Workers], a major player at the heart of the group which accounts for 13 shops in France, two of which are in the capital, had not yet given instructions at the start of the evening. The unions are negotiating most notably on work conditions in the shops, the allocation of lunch vouchers, the Staff Committee budget and payment for a 13th month.
A little earlier, the unions explained that the negotiations were stalling on this last point, the management arguing that the company had lost some 10 million [euros] in France, according to a union source.
“What Apple is now offering are lunch vouchers (…) and a revised budget for the Staff Committee. However, what is causing a problem is the 13th month,” said Clement, a CFTC representative who refused to give his last name.
Pizzas and Folding Chairs for the “Fans”
“The employees are not happy at all,” explained the staff representative from the Apple Louvre shop, indicating that the union carried out a survey of its staff to see if they were “ready to strike or not.”
The CFTC reluctantly admitted that a strike on the iPhone 5 launch day would not be ideal for the brand, which “works mainly on image.”
“We do not want to damage Apple’s image, or that of its employees, but it’s true that if we do not have the choice, unfortunately…” he said.
At the Apple Opéra Store, the company’s employees, known for their silence, were not talkative on Thursday, several citing their employer’s “ethical policy.”
The launch of the new telephone is creating an enormous demand. In front of one of the shops in the capital, around 30 “fans” had been there since Thursday afternoon in front of the entrance to be the first to get their hands on the precious telephone.
“Apple knows how to get people hooked,” said Sylvain Gautier, 38 years old, a civil servant working in National Education, adding that he was planning to spend the night on his folding chair in front of the shop.
“At 8:00 AM I get served. At 8:20 AM, I will go to get my SIM card and at 8:30 AM, it is on the road,” confirmed the iPhone disciple. “I think that the Apple Store employees are intelligent. I do not think they will obstruct the shop. At least, I hope not…” he added.
Beside him, two brothers from Belgium, Brecht and Dieter Decuypere, 23 and 19 years old, were eating pizza. “We came especially by bus this morning,” explained one of the two, adding that the iPhone 5 was not being launched until the 28th in their home country.
According to certain analysts, Apple could sell up to 10 million iPhone 5s worldwide on its first day.
Apple France’s management remains unavailable. They have not commented on the salary negotiations, despite several attempts to contact them.
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